‘He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth.’ (Ps 72:6)
God has been speaking to me about rain over the last few weeks. I believe He is calling us to look expectantly to Him, to observe where He is at work, and to position for what He is doing.
Observe the ‘Front’ where God is at Work
Recently, my husband Malcolm and I were walking along a beach, enjoying the last of the evening sun. Suddenly, we noticed that the sun was about to descend behind a curtain of thick black cloud. It was a front of heavy rain, heading our way.
Sure enough, within 2 hours, there was a downpour.
Change is in the Air: The Rain is Coming
A weather front is the boundary line between two distinctly different atmospheric conditions. It could be described as a ‘change zone.’ And I believe this speaks to us today of a shift taking place in the spiritual atmosphere over our lives, churches, communities, nations—and even globally.
As prophetic people, we can be ‘front-watchers.’ Let’s be like ‘the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.’ (1 Chron 12:32)
What is the Prophetic Meaning of Rain?
The Holy Spirit and Rain
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring (Isaiah 44:3)
Rain is one of many symbols in the Bible used to describe the Holy Spirit. By its nature, released from the skies above, rain speaks of the Holy Spirit outpoured from heaven. God’s purposes for this include:
- Refreshment (Ps 68:7-9, Acts 3:19)
- Empowerment (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:17-18)
- Restoration (Joel 2:23-25, Hosea 6:2-3)
- A Harvest of souls won to faith in God (Isaiah 44:3-5)
Rain and the Season of Harvest
In the Biblical context, rain was related to seasons and to crops. There is mention of the early (autumn) rains, and the latter (spring) rains. The spring rains brought the fullness of the harvest.
‘Latter rains’ refer to a great outpouring of the Spirit—one that will result in an End Time harvest of people to God’s Kingdom. (Acts 2:16-17, James 5:7)
Regardless of opinions about timing, this IS the ‘End Times’ for the generations alive on the earth today. Billions will never have another opportunity to hear the Gospel and respond to God—and we will never have another opportunity to share it with them.
But the Lord of the Harvest has a plan (Luke 10:2), and the rain clouds are forming.
Rain Reminds us of God’s Sovereignty
There is nothing humanity can do to create rain. Recently we had many years of drought in our State of Victoria, Australia. This resulted in expensive projects to draw from alternative water sources—including a desalination plant constructed to utilise seawater. And then, it started to rain again. And rain. Our water storage levels, down to 33% a few years ago, are now at 81%.
Likewise, it is not human effort that is going to bring a change in the spiritual atmosphere and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That is why we call it a ‘move of God.’
Religious performance says that we need to do the ‘rain dance.’ The idea is, that if we do the right steps for long enough, God will send the rain. But it is not about works; it is all about His grace and timing.
The balance of this is that God does require our cooperation with His Spirit to fully enter into and receive His purposes. For example, the Holy Spirit may lead us into prayer (Zech 10:1) or repentance. (Hosea 6:1, Hosea 10:12, Acts 3:19)
Repentance is not only the breaking up of hardness of heart and repentance from sin. Repentance also involves fully embracing and entering into who we are in Christ.
Before Rain Comes Turbulence
There is often turmoil and unstable weather around a weather front, where two air masses of different temperatures and densities converge.
We can expect that a shift in the spiritual atmosphere will result in some turbulence.
- The move of God does not come the way some expect
- What God is doing does not necessarily fit with human priorities, vision and values
- There may be immaturity in some of those who embrace and participate in what God is doing
- Opposition or misunderstandings arise
At this stage, we have a choice—allow the turbulence to put us off, or to look beyond this to Father’s intended purpose. As we embrace what is of God, and persevere through the trials, we are positioned to receive what He has promised.
Anticipate Your Father’s Generosity as You Seek for Rain
God loves to visit His children with seasons of visitation.
So, let’s check our hearts, that we are not seeking the moving of God’s Spirit out of a sense of poverty, or as spiritual orphans, deprived of the Father’s Presence.
- We are sons and daughters, and we can joyfully anticipate our Father’s generosity.
The rain is coming. It is time to stop focusing on our needs on the ground, and to lift our faces to the ‘front’ where the Holy Spirit is moving.
For at this time, God is moving personally, locally and globally—and we can bless and rejoice in it and the anticipation of what is to come.
Related Posts:
What is the Prophetic Meaning of New Wine?
This Can Be A Year of Visitation from God
Prophetic Dream: It’s Time to be Immersed in the Spirit
© Helen Calder: Enliven Ministries
In the David McCracken Ministries Family
Helen! Such a timely word for this season. I’m going through turbulence, as are many people in my lives, and I knew there must be more to it. I am thankful that He has kept my heart strong in this time and my first impulse is to praise Him no matter what.
Thank you for listening for what He wants to say through you :o)
Thanks for revelations, be blessed
In my *life*, I mean. I haven’t found a way of living more than one yet. 😛
Hi, Sharon, great to hear from you! It’s wonderful that we can have faith in Father’s plan being outworked and that turbulence can actually be a sign that He IS working in it, through it, and behind it.
Rain JESUS Reign, thank you so much Helen, this is just so Beautiful, such a Word in Season to Strengthen and Restore Vision. As I read this Prophetic Message, I can Hear the Sound of an Abundance of Rain, Yes, I am eagerly waiting for the Rain of Heaven to touch this earth in such a Powerful and Transforming way, like something we have never seen before, that the GLORY of The LORD would COVER the earth, even as the Waters Cover the Sea, Rain JESUS REIGN. It’s like deep is calling out to deep, the Creator is calling forth the created, HE is the Potter and we are the clay. I know the Ways of GOD are so much Higher than our ways, just like the Heavens are so much Higher than the earth, so are HIS thoughts so much Higher than our thoughts. One thing I am aware of is that no eye has yet seen, no ear has yet heard, nor has it even entered into the heart of man the things GOD has planned and purposed in HIS Heart for us, I do know that the Holy Spirit searches the Deep Things of GOD and Reveals them to us little by little, just like a jigsaw puzzle, we see a small part unfolding before our eyes. I do pray that I would be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, in order to move in step with the Heart of GOD. Helen I love your thoughts on the Sovereignty of GOD, you inspired me to write down these little bits and pieces of Scripture about Our Precious LORD JESUS,
The One Who ALWAYS WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME
HE is The Alpha and Omega
The First and the Last
The Beginning and The End
The KING of kings, and LORD of lords
And HE shall REIGN Forever and EVER
Of The Increase of HIS Kingdom, there shall be NO END
And the kingdoms of this world, shall become the KINGDOM of Our LORD and of HIS CHRIST
And HE Shall RULE and REIGN Forever and EVER
And HIS GLORY Shall COVER the earth, as the Waters Cover the Sea
Blessings always, from Irene
Helen,
Thank you for this impartation of God’s work and word. I awoke this morning around 3 am and heard rain, it was only but for a few seconds, but it was really loud. I thought it was really raining, so I was also in a little pain, so I prayed thanked God and went back to sleep peacefully. We as a family are experiencing some financial holes and believing that God is about to work it all out, but it has been a bit challenging now for the past 6 or 7 years. We are tired and now changing our way of speaking, believing and expecting. So for 2018 we are EXPECTING THE RAIN!!!!!! Thank you LORD and God bless you!!!
The rain or holy spirit is poured on the holy ones who go to heaven with Christ the vegetation that grows make up the people who gain eternal life on earth Hebrews 6:7-20
Praise the lord….lord always with us….protecting us… encouraging us… god is never end….
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Indeed, sharing the experience of the Kingdom of God, where we all belong is so amazing. Since I came to understand the mistry of RAIN, my life has changed dramatically. I agree with you Annette, we need to provoke for the RAIN to come, in spiritual realm it is done, let us play our part as Mathew 6:34 says, Jesus is Lord
2021 i see the lord, it was during a prayer in the middle of the night, as i began to pray outside my house, rain drop strted falling on me and truely i knew this can holy be God opening the heaven for the outpooring of the holy spirit.
Amen to that, Akin! His Heavenly rain – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit